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Anyone?I've heard that mixing with fatty juices like coconut can potentiate.

Not really a matter of potentiating but rather extracting the active Kavalactones more effectively. As with Cannabinoids the Kavalactones are poorly water soluble. Milks and oils will produce a far more potent brew than water.

Not really a matter of potentiating but rather extracting the active Kavalactones more effectively. As with Cannabinoids the Kavalactones are poorly water soluble. Milks and oils will produce a far more potent brew than water.

Can anyone explain the lecithin /kava interaction?How exactly does lecithin potentiate kava?I did do a forum search but didnt turn up much.I'm sure the topic has been discussed so please bear with me,just quite excited about recently rediscovering kava.

despite the fact that that's how its been made, SWIM doesnt know, but thinks it might be due to the solubilitiy of the ingredients/lactones in lecithin (similar to fat & cannabis), even though this is just a wild guess

Kavalactones are fatty, and do not like to be in water. When you make a kava drink, you're making an emulsion instead of a solution.

Lecithin is fatty, but can dissolve in water to some degree. The presence of the nonpolar bulk of lecithin solvated in water makes it much more favorable for the water to hold the kavalactones in emulsion.

Normally, burying nonpolar molecules in an emulsion requires the water forming thermodynamically unfavorable clathrate structures around the nonpolar molecules. This is significantly less unfavorable with lecithin around, since a substantial portion of the hydrophilic surface of the kavalactone can bury against the lecithin.

Swim thinks we might be getting "extraction" and "solubility" confused a little bit, he thinks, and his experiences with kava confirm, that a source of fat/oil isn't necessary to extract the kavalactones, however it might be needed to actually keep them suspended in solution. The importance of this last part is a bit unclear to swim considering the fact that people will usually shake/stir or drink the whole thing and be consuming all the kavalactones anyways, in solution or not.

Swim thinks we might be getting "extraction" and "solubility" confused a little bit, he thinks, and his experiences with kava confirm, that a source of fat/oil isn't necessary to extract the kavalactones, however it might be needed to actually keep them suspended in solution.

If you're not part of the solution, then you're part of the emulsion! (loses something in the translation...)

Anywho - Kava~Kava is not brewed, per se. It is mixed as rapidly as possible to make the suspension/emulsion. A high-speed blender being ideal(but not as fun as the traditional way, granted). Add whole milk<1> (250ml/8oz/serving), 2 tablespoons(US and European are interchangable) Kava~Kava powder, and a teaspoon to a tablespoon lecithin* granules(or equivalent if powdered). Turn on blender(put the top on, ya stoner) low and bring it up to high. Give it about a minute. Check the blender to see if it's overheating the motor(they love to burn out). Blend another minute or two total.

Gulp. Don't sip.

* Lecithin is not needed and not traditional. I only add this recipe to placate those who want the stuff in there.

<1> Coconut milk can also be used. Make sure it's fresh and contains the natural oils.

Although I used the word "solution" loosely, this technicality doesn't seem to effect the real question of whether the fat/oil is necessary if the kavalactones are being consumed either way. Unless there's some sort of bonding with the fat that helps their absorption by the body, which doesn't seem likely.

Kavalactones are fatty, and do not like to be in water. When you make a kava drink, you're making an emulsion instead of a solution.

Lecithin is fatty, but can dissolve in water to some degree. The presence of the nonpolar bulk of lecithin solvated in water makes it much more favorable for the water to hold the kavalactones in emulsion.

Normally, burying nonpolar molecules in an emulsion requires the water forming thermodynamically unfavorable clathrate structures around the nonpolar molecules. This is significantly less unfavorable with lecithin around, since a substantial portion of the hydrophilic surface of the kavalactone can bury against the lecithin.

Thank you,this is very informatine

Eden added 13 Minutes and 9 Seconds later...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eden

Thank you,this is very informatine

Err, uhh informative rather.

Last edited by Eden; 27-04-2008 at 23:58.
Reason: Automerged Doublepost

Your body does need the fatto activate the kava. Get coca nut milk from the goya section in super market.This makes the kava work extremely well. You will feel every bit of it.You will know what kava is suppose to feel like.
chaplain don

SWIM wants to know what the deal is with the capsules found in grocery and health food stores. SWIM sees NOW brand 250 mg capsules of 30% Kava Kava and wonders if the capsules are relatively ineffective without the coconut milk or some other activator, or if they'll work fine in the gel capsules as they come from the store. Does your closet monkey have a qualified opinion? Mahalo!

My personal monkey is a bit of a Kava freek.He loves to try every kind of kava he can get his grubby little hands on.The problem he has encountered is that there really is not a kava out there that gives him a lasting euphoric feeling that isnt followed immediately by a horrible bout of nausea,irritability and general sense of "poor-being" that must be slept off.In terms of market-based capsules etc.,he has tried many.The ONLY ones he has discovered that produce the ever-elusive kava sensations are "Gaia" brand liquid phyto gels.They are extremely concentrated.They contain 250 viable kavalactones per capsule.I dunno,it seems my monkey has all but thrown his hands up in disgust.Perhaps he is going about the whole thing wrong?He is trying to actually get high and so far has found this not possible.Poor little monkey...

My personal monkey is a bit of a Kava freek.He loves to try every kind of kava he can get his grubby little hands on.The problem he has encountered is that there really is not a kava out there that gives him a lasting euphoric feeling that isnt followed immediately by a horrible bout of nausea,irritability and general sense of "poor-being" that must be slept off.

Perhaps some Ginger (or ginger beer) or Cannabis 15mins prior to consuming the Kava may help prevent the nausea? The Cannabis may even help with the irritability and general sense of "poor-being".

Other than that, buy the best quality Kava you can afford. In swims experience, the Vanuatu Kava has less nausea and more of a heady mood lift and euphoria / sense of well being, while the Fijian, PNG, Tongan etc give more of a heavy body stone, sometimes with Nausea.

Swims finds large doses of the instant kava / other extracts are more prone to causing nausea than good quality fresh root. It is unfortunate that we have not (as far as I am aware) yet established which Kavalactones are responsible for the euphoria and which cause the nausea. It would certainly be interesting to get hold of / experiment with the individual Kavalactones.

SWIM would like to point out that the SUSPENSION must be kept cool, well below 140 degrees F. Trying to "extract" the active ingredients by using heat (as SWIY might do with cannabis and oil) would destroy the kavalactones' potential. Probably already covered, but bears repeating.

swim took a few years to delope a kava kava palete, and a good tek to make the stuff.

what i learned is that kava kava is powerful plant, and is forgiving(yeilding) in its effects, unlike poppies or coca, which are relentless in the chemical sense. and possesive in the spirtual sense. kava kava does the job, but wont nessecarly put in the "overtime" needed for euphoria.

if swiy can find euphoria with your self, then kava kava can be used to create a plato for those feelings

UseIt~or~loseIt added 10 Minutes and 33 Seconds later...

i found the fatteir of milk the better to extract the lactones, whole milk seems best and to keep the temp low, and to let your kava steep at leaste 30mins, an hour is better

swim found the strongest synergy with cannabis butter. make a strong kava kava drink, warm jsut enough to melt your butter into, add cinn and nutmeg for the tummy,

2 whole nutmegs eating two ours before swim drinks the kava is also amazing, the nutmeg brings out the emphathic qualities of the kava, in or around the low 2 whole nutmeg does is very effective, more nutmeg is not recommended at all

kava and mate create sort of a perfect bliss

UseIt~or~loseIt added 2 Minutes and 57 Seconds later...

if your kava dosent make your mouth tingle apon the first sip, it isnt strong enough.

Waka Grade kava is the strongest, and will make your whole mouth numb after the third sip

Post Quality Evaluations:

Good suggestions.

Last edited by UseIt~or~loseIt; 02-01-2010 at 04:39.
Reason: Automerged Doublepost

2 whole nutmegs eating two ours before swim drinks the kava is also amazing, the nutmeg brings out the emphathic qualities of the kava, in or around the low 2 whole nutmeg does is very effective, more nutmeg is not recommended at all

I’m very curious about this. Not many people talk about nutmeg being used to potentiate other things.